NRI to popularise cricket in America through TV shows

Chandigarh, Nov 14 (IANS) A Dubai-based NRI entrepreneur is all set to popularise cricket in American households through a series of TV talk shows and soap operas. Ajay Sethi, owner of the Channel 2 group that owns radio and television channels in Dubai, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa will produce talk shows involving former cricketers and soap operas showcasing the history of Indian cricket solely for the American market.

The Channel 2 group had last month hosted the “Legends of Lords” event at Dubai to felicitate the Indian team that had won the 1983 cricket World Cup.

“After trying my hand in various fields like real estate, media and the entertainment industry, I would now like to pursue my passion and true love that is cricket. Cricket is already a popular sport in India and I have decided to extend its popularity in America,” Sethi told reporters here Thursday.

“My aim is to popularise and promote the cricket in the west through a series of talk shows featuring interviews and discussions of former cricket legends including the team members of the team that won the World Cup in 1983,” Sethi stated.

“Cricket is revered as religion in India where every Indian single-mindedly follows cricket. However, in America we have fragmented supporters among various sports like soccer, golf, basketball, baseball and cricket,” Sethi added.

He said that the legal advisers of Channel 2 in Dubai are negotiating with the representatives of various American television and radio channels to buy time slots in their respective channels.